The Agent

12/05/2024

ABOUT THE ARREST OF FAZ OFFICIALS: GENUINE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR MERE WITCH-HUNT?

By Sean Tembo - PeP President

1. On 23rd April 2024, four Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) officials were arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). These were Mr. Andrew Kamanga; the FAZ President, Mr. Reuben Kamanga; the FAZ General Secretary, Mr. Madalitso Kamanga; a member of the FAZ Security Committee, and Mr. Jairos Siame; a member of the FAZ Protocol Committee. The quartet was jointly charged with three counts being (i) Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia (ii) Obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences contrary to Section 309 (A) of the Penal Code and (iii) Conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code. On Monday, 6th May 2024, the quartet was summoned back to DEC offices were a fourth charge of giving false information to a public officer, was jointly preferred against them, based on the same allegations.

2. There have been accusations and counter-accusations flying around the media that these charges are frivolous and designed to taint the current crop of FAZ officials so that they can be less appealing to delegates when FAZ goes for an elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) next year. These allegations further state that the Minister of Sports conspired with the Drug Enforcement Commission to undertake this alleged smear campaign, with the objective of increasing the chances of MUZA United Football Club Chairman, Mr. Keith Mweemba to win the FAZ Presidency next year, where it is further alleged that he intends to stand and challenge the incumbent Andrew Kamanga.

3. Do these allegations have any substance to them, or it is a case of the Andrew Kamanga FAZ trying to hide their maladministration and plunder of resources in the local football administration? Does the Minister of Sports or indeed any other individual or group of individuals really have the power and influence to cause a law enforcement agency such as the Drug Enforcement Commission to prefer criminal charges against persons who have not committed any offense? Why are there so many Kamangas at FAZ? Are these people relatives and is Mr. Andrew Kamanga conspiring with his fellow Kamangas to defraud FAZ, at the expense of Zambian football?

4. The above are some of the questions that have been lingering in my mind for the past few weeks ever since Mr. Andrew Kamanga and three other individuals at FAZ were arrested by DEC. And l believe they are the same questions which have been on the mind of every other football loving Zambian out there. So l decided to do some basic digging around in order to separate the smoke from the fire. Suffice to mention that the facts in this matter are readily available in the public domain. Controversy only arises in terms of how these facts are interpreted. Let us review the facts and see if we can arrive at the same interpretation and conclusion.

5. It is a fact that the four criminal charges which have been laid against the FAZ President, FAZ General Secretary and two others, by the Drug Enforcement Commission arise from a letter which the FAZ General Secretary wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts on 3rd January 2024. The letter was titled: AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - ADVANCE PARTY. The letter has 3 paragraphs. Paragraph 1.0 says "We refer to the above captioned matter, the Association wish to submit names of officials traveling on the Advance Party to go and make preparations for the Africa Cup". Paragraph 2.0 says "We wish to inform you that Mr. Justin Mumba (the Vice President of the Football Association of Zambia), Messrs Madaliso Kamanga and Jairos Siame (Football Association of Zambia officials) have been appointed to travel on the Advance Party, whose mandate is to ensure that all logistics for the team's participation in the tournament are in place ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Cote D'Ivoire ". Paragraph 3.0 says "We thank you for your usual assistance and support".

6. According to the particulars of the alleged offenses preferred by the Drug Enforcement Commission on the quartet, DEC alleges that Mr Madaliso Kamanga and Mr. Jairos Siame are not FAZ officials, and that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts was misled into buying air tickets and paying per diem allowances to these two individuals who are not FAZ officials, and that out of the trio who travelled to Cote D'Ivoire as a FAZ advance party, only Mr. Justin Mumba, the FAZ Vice President is a FAZ official. So the contention here is on the definition of a "FAZ official". Who really is a FAZ official? We know for a fact that Mr. Madaliso Kamanga is a member of the FAZ Security Committee, and Mr. Jairos Siame is a member of the FAZ Protocol Committee. But does a member of a FAZ Committee qualify to be referred to as a "FAZ Official"?

7. Well, luckily for our debate, the FAZ Constitution actually defines who a FAZ Official is. On page 4 of the FAZ Constitution, under the heading of DEFINITIONS, a FAZ Official is defined as " every board member, committee member, referee and assistant referee, coach, trainer and any other person (except players) responsible for technical, medical and administrative matters in the Association ..." It appears therefore that by virtue of being members of the Security and Protocol Committees respectively, Mr. Madaliso Kamanga and Mr Jairos Siame are, by definition, FAZ Officials. In fact, according to the FAZ Constitution, even if Mr. Madaliso Kamanga and Mr Jairos Siame were not members of any FAZ Committee, they would have qualified to be "FAZ Officials" merely by virtue of being tasked with administrative responsibilities by FAZ, regarding the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Therefore, Mr. Madaliso Kamanga and Mr Jairos Siame both twice qualified to be referred to as FAZ Officials in the letter that the FAZ General Secretary wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts on 3rd January 2024. Firstly by virtue of being FAZ Committee Members, and secondly by virtue of having been tasked by FAZ to perform administrative duties during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

8. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the four counts for which the quartet is jointly charged with, being (i) Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia (ii) Obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences contrary to Section 309 (A) of the Penal Code, (iii) Conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code and (iv) giving false information to a person employed in the public service, are frivolous, vexatious, malicious and without merit whatsoever. That is because there was nothing misleading or false in the letter which the FAZ General Secretary wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts on 3rd January 2024. All the three individuals in the advance party were, by definition, FAZ officials. But this matter does not end here. There are a few more salient issues that l want you to pay attention to. The first issue is the involvement of the Drug Enforcement Commission in making these arrests. All the four alleged offenses above fall under the Penal Code Act, Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia. None of the alleged offenses above fall under the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 44 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia, which would give the Drug Enforcement Commission jurisdiction to make arrests and prosecute the matter. So how did DEC come in? Does the fact that Mr. Keith Mweemba, who is alleged to be vying for the FAZ Presidency, worked at DEC as a prosecutor together with the current DEC Director General, Mr. Nason Banda, have any bearing on this DEC overreach and abuse of prosecutorial powers? Is Mr. Nason Banda abusing the authority of his office as DEC Director General to try and propel his former colleague to the FAZ Presidency by soiling the reputation of Andrew Kamanga and his team? Why did DEC get involved in a purely Zambia Police matter?

9. The second salient issue that l want you to pay attention to is the fact that the letter of 3rd January 2024 which was written by FAZ to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts and from which all the criminal charges above emanate from, was signed by the FAZ General Secretary and not the FAZ President. In fact, according to the FAZ Constitution and as a matter of fact, the FAZ President is not involved in the day to day operations of the Association. He does not even have an office at the FAZ Secretariat. He only goes to the Secretariat to attend Board Meetings. So why did the Drug Enforcement Commission find it necessary to charge Mr. Andrew Kamanga? Is the DEC Director General, Mr. Nason Banda trying to do a favor for his colleague by soiling Andrew Kamanga's reputation so that his colleague can have it plain sailing should he stand for the FAZ Presidency at next year's elective AGM? Is it that only charging the FAZ General Secretary would not have sufficed for purposes of their conspiracy to taint FAZ and portray it as a corrupt organization? Or is it that DEC wanted to drive a particular false narrative in the eyes of the general public by arresting many Kamangas, whom by the way are not related at all? Andrew Kamanga is a Ngoni from Chief Saili of Chipata District, whereas Reuben Kamanga is a Chewa from Chief Change, and Madaliso Kamanga is from Chief Chinunda of Chipangali District.

10. Whatever the case, Mr. Nason Banda and his team at the Drug Enforcement Commission should feel ashamed and drop these frivolous, vexatious, malicious and unmeritorious charges against the FAZ officials. The three individuals whom FAZ sent to Cote D'Ivoire as an advance party for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament were, by definition, all FAZ Officials. Mr. Nason Banda and his team at DEC should know that the term "FAZ Official" should not be interpreted based on their common sense or lack thereof, but should be interpreted based on the definition provided in the FAZ Constitution. If the Drug Enforcement Commission was not driven by ulterior motives and if they had done a basic investigation before effecting arrests, they would have seen that their case lacks any merit whatsoever. Unless Mr. Nason Banda is telling the Zambian people that DEC is a morally bankrupt mafia organization whose sole mandate is to pursue frivolous vendettas against innocent Zambians on behalf of powerful connected people? Is that what DEC is? We know that football, just like politics, has always been a dirty game. But let the contestants at next year's elective FAZ AGM fight on a level playing field, and hope that whoever wins the FAZ Presidency will take Zambia's football to greater heights. We do not expect Mr. Nason Banda to be abusing the authority of his office, as well as taxpayers' money, to try and influence FAZ politics. Go and catch some junkies smoking glue, Mr. Banda. That's what your job is. Anyway, the Future is SET ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

///END

SET 12.05.2024

26/04/2024

What's your take? Ati stop stressing Boma!

14/04/2024

ZESCO Limited is reinstating an 8-hour load shedding schedule to enhance stability and predictability in power management across Lusaka. This decision follows challenges identified with the previous staggered schedule, and the Corporation is committed to refining our approach to better serve customers.

11/04/2024

Government has provided K1bn fiscal support to attend to Investrust Bank in possession insolvency.

The level of insolvency at Investrust Bank in possession is estimated at K850m.

Bank of Zambia -BoZ- Governor DENNY KALYALYA says Investrust Bank has been possessed because the institution's assets are not enough to meet its liabilities.

Speaking during a Press Briefing in Lusaka, Dr. KALYALYA said the first payment to depositors at the Investrust Bank in Possession, will be made on April 26, 2024.

Dr. KALYALYA says the first payment will represent 90% of all deposits from about 57,000 deposit accounts.

He says the maximum payment to be made on each account in the first round will be about K500,000.

The Central Bank Governor adds that the speed at which payments will be made will depend on how quick depositors share information with the Bank of Zambia to facilitate payments.

He says modalities of the payments will be advised as soon as possible.

And Dr. KALYALYA said the Bank Of Zambia will in the next 6-weeks present the financial statement of affairs to fully understand the financial status of Investrust.

And Dr. KALYALYA has revealed that at the time of possession, ZCCM held 71.4% shares in the Bank, while Bank of Nevis International held 24% shareholding and others held 4.5%.

On the status of Investrust employees, Dr. KALYALYA said the workers have been asked to be home for now and will be advised on the way forward once the statement of affairs regarding their institution is prepared.

ZNBC

10/04/2024

ONE SHOT DEAD, TWO INJURED IN MEALIE MEAL SCRAMBLE

By Lovemore Sondashi

Police in Ndola on the Copperbelt have shot dead an 18-year-old man in Mushili as community members tried to ransack a shop that sells mealie meal.

Kennedy Zulu succumbed to gunshot wounds from the three that were shot by officers during the fracas.

Others include a 15-year-old girl shot in the buttocks while 22-year-old Levi Musonda was shot on the right thigh.

The two are receiving treatment at Ndola Teaching Hospital.

Coppperbelt Police Commanding Officer, Peacewell Mweemba, tells Diamond News in a statement that a businessman of Mushili was on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, found offloading bags of mealie meal from a light truck into his shop.

Mr. Mweemba says police suspected that smuggling activities were taking place, and in the process, members of the community around the market took advantage and tried to ransack the mealie meal from the truck.

The situation eventually became riotous, forcing officers to open fire

27/11/2023

STATE TO COMPENSATE TRANSPORT MINISTER K450,000

By Rhodah Mvula

The Attorney General has agreed to compensate Transport Minister Frank Tayali with K450,000 for the trauma he experienced after police officers pointed a gun at him in 2020.

In a consent judgment signed by ZS Legal Practitioners and the Attorney General, it has been agreed that the state will also cover the plaintiff's costs, totaling K80,000.

Mr. Tayali had filed a lawsuit against the state before the Lusaka High Court, seeking compensation for the ordeal he endured.

The incident occured when he accompanied UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, now the President of the Republic of Zambia, who was summoned by the police for questioning at Police Service headquarters.
https://zambiareports.news/2023/11/27/state-to-compensate-transport-minister-k450000/

More@ www.zambiareports.news

Credit: Diamond TV

14/11/2023

30/12/2022

This looks interesting.

PART I: DINING AND WINING WITH JUDGES - LUNCHEON TO CELEBRATE REMOVAL OF DEATH PENALTY

By Isaac Mwanza

"When the executive and the judiciary start singing from the same hymn book, know that citizens are in trouble" ~ Jonas Zimba, Lawyer

INTRODUCTION

This series of four articles intends to provide reflections on four key issues that emerge from a luncheon hosted by Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in celebration of the removal of the death penalty from Zambia’s statutes. The four issues in chronological order are:

(1). Judges of the superior courts celebrating the removal of death penalty;
(2). The scales of justice in Zambia are balanced towards the rich and against the poor - sentiments of a President on ‘death row’;
(3). Kudos for removal of death penalty attributed to the people whose opinions have been so divided; and
(4) A lone Cabinet decision to decriminalise defamation of the President.

The articles are not intended to either criticise or praise the President or any arm of government but to provide advice which can be reflected upon when decision makers and planners make key decisions in future or plan similar events thereafter.

JUDGES OF SUPERIOR COURTS CELEBRATED REMOVAL OF DEATH PENALTY?

When I saw judges joining in the luncheon to celebrate the removal of the death penalty, my mind's eye immediately peeped into the workings of the United States justice system, to see what the reaction of both the nine Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, referred to by the acronym “SCOTUS”, and the American public in the event that President Joseph Biden invited the revered SCOTUS Judges to luncheon to celebrate the passing, by the US Senate, and his signing a law to codify abortion rights in all 50 States of the Union. Of course, such may never happen in the US for obvious reasons.

The issue of abortion in the United States, just like the repeal or abolition of the death penalty in Zambia, is a highly contentious issue among lawmakers and the citizenry, based on various considerations, legal, political and religious ideologies.

In Zambia, if a poll was to be taken today among members of professional bodies such as the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) on whether death penalty should be abolished, it would show a divided opinion among legal practitioners but usually its the decision of the majority that take precedence. It is unknown though who the majority are in the case of the death penalty, but that is a story for the third series.

In a functioning democracy, however, the minority have a right to petition the Courts with a reasonable expectation that Judges do not have a position on matters brought before them for adjudication.

This is why, there is a 0.0001 percent chance that Judges of the SCOTUS will join the Executive in celebrating the passage of the law to make abortion legal in the United States, and it would actually be unfair for the Justice Department to send invitations to SCOTUS to join in the celebration by the Executive because the question will eventually require them to make a decision on the very question.

If asking questions is still permissible in Zambia, the question would be: how does one aggrieved with the decision to remove the death penalty expect Judges of the superior courts who, yesterday were celebrating the removal of death penalty at the luncheon, to fairly adjudicate disputes taken before them over the same matter? Impressions do matter here.

By joining in the celebrations at State House, the judges can be seen to have overtly taken a position on the matter.

I must state here, that I have utmost faith in the impartiality of the Judges of our Superior courts, especially that they have shown in some cases which are contentious that they can make decisions against the executive and hold their heads high.

The rare cases include when the High Court ruled against deportation of one Roy Clarke, an alien who is a long term resident of Zambia and overturning the decision by the National Assembly to sentence Dr. Fred M'membe, a person who inspired my childhood, Managing Editor Bright Mwape, and Columnist Lucy Sichone to indefinite imprisonment on 27th February, 1996.

The other cases in which our Judges made history was the striking out the charge of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public under Section 67 of the Penal Code which would have sent one McDonald Chipenzi, Daily Nation Managing Editor Richard Sakala, and reporter Simon Mwanza to spend 3 year in prison.

Our newly established Constitutional Court is also credited with a landmark decision which required judges to summon courage as custodians of the Constitution to rule against former Ministers on their continued stay in office following the dissolution of the National Assembly based on the ambiguous provision of the Constitution which the then Republican President, a man who had few months decorated them with appointments to the highest peoples’ court, could not be faulted for invoking.

However, it is my humble view that the decision to invite Judges to the dining table by and with the executive, who included the Attorney-General, Director of Public Prosecutions, representatives of investigative wings such as Anti-Corruption Commission, etc., to celebrate the passage of legislation, is of great concern and a worrying matter for many who litigate against the executive.

This joint celebrations paint the unfortunate picture that the judicial branch and executive branch are now “on the same page” or all singing from the same sheet and that this camaraderie between the two, may result in the judiciary being unwilling to hold their newly-found friends in the executive branch, to account as intended by our very Constitution.

There are currently a number of contentious matters before various Courts in which the Executive has shown some form of contempt against our courts. An example of such a matter is the issue of immunity granted to the former KCM Liquidator, Mr. Milingo Lungu, which is before our courts. Yet we have witnessed the Executive branch, through the new Director of Public Prosecutions, completely ignore court proceedings by tearing apart the immunity agreement which is in fact the subject of contention before the courts at this very moment.

How do litigants in such matters perceive the dining and wining between judges and the executive?

Cabinet Office must avoid the temptation of inviting judges to attend events that celebrate decisions made by either the Executive or the Legislature on contentious matters that are likely to land back in courts for adjudication.

Our judges are the last line of defence against legislative or executive encroachment on our rights as citizens and it is a very worrying scenario when we witness this camaraderie between our governors with our judges, to whom aggrieved citizens must go for succour and whose impartiality on any topic must never be perceived, let alone seen, to be compromised when we witness our judges being wined and dined by the executive.

It is an adulterous relationship – adulterous in the sense that judicial independence may indeed be adulterated by an unwelcome friendship between our governors and the ultimate protector of our rights, namely, the courts.

CONCLUSION

In future, it is important for Cabinet Office to learn from other countries on who they should invite to such celebrations. If such similar celebrations on signing a law to codify abortion rights or abolish the death penalty or enactment of laws to protect the practice of homosexuality in the US was to be hosted by the US President Joe Biden, it certainly would not involve judges of the SCOTUS, or the heads of the investigative and prosecutorial organs of the federal state but would have targeted family members whose loved one had been on death row or some specific community that has a cause to celebrate. I am sure the SCOTUS judges would themselves have decided not to attend the celebration.

[First Published by the Daily Nation. 2022]

08/12/2022

PRIVATISATION SEASON 2

ZCCM-IH PUTS NDOLA LIME FOR SALE

30/11/2022

When you fail to deliver and you think issuing threats is the answer. The case of our agriculture minister Mr Reuben Mtolo Phiri

22/11/2022

PF IS MORE ATTRACTIVE NOW – HON KAFWAYA

PF hopeful presidential candidate Mutotwe Kafwaya has said PF is more attractive now than it was before.
Speaking when he featured on Millennium Radio, Hon Kafwaya said the things that made citizens hate PF are no longer there.
The contender said those that used to talk about the arrogance of leaders during the PF regime have now seen arrogant leaders under the UPND.
“I think the Patriotic Front is more attractive now than it was in 2020. I say so because now you don’t see the things which annoyed many Zambians in the PF. Now you don’t see anyone accusing PF of political violence,” he said.
“Now you don’t see anyone accusing PF of any of those things which were causing confusion. Some people were saying PF was arrogant, we have now seen arrogant leaders. We have seen leaders who can act outside the law with impunity.”
He said the arrogance of the PF is tiny as compared to the one being experienced currently.
“We have seen elections which can be done in a constituency with an outdated ballot paper. So even the arrogance of PF, the arrogance that people were putting to act is now so minute in the face of what is happening now. So, clearly, if you ask me, and I am being very honest with you, PF is more attractive now than it was….” He said.
Meanwhile, Hon Kafwaya said PF members should not be desperate.
“There should be no desperation. There is no need for anyone of us to show desperation because we have a leadership and we have created a process for ourselves through the constitution of the Patriotic Front to be able to undertake the convention and elect a new leader,” he said.
“Let us mobilize the party let us encourage our party members. Let us give credible checks and balances to the UPND.”

source: smart eagles

10/10/2022

Enock Mwepu's Football Career Cut Short

Enock Mwepu has been forced to end his playing career following the diagnosis of a hereditary heart condition.
The condition, which can worsen over time, would put Enock at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event, if he were to continue playing competitive football.
Club chairman Tony Bloom said, “We are all absolutely devastated for Enock. He and his family have had a traumatic few weeks and while we are just thankful he has come through that period, he has seen such a promising career cut short at such a young age.
“As a club we will give him all the love, help and support we possibly can to make a full recovery, and then as he decides on the next steps in his life.”
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi added, “I am so sorry for Enock. Before I arrived I looked at all the squad, and he was a player I was so excited and looking forward to working with. We will do everything we can to help him.”
Head of Medicine and Performance, Adam Brett explained, “It is a terrible blow for Enock, but he has to put his health and his family first and this is the right choice, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves.”
Enock was taken ill while on a flight to join up with Zambia during the international break and after a period in hospital in Mali he returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests and ongoing care.
These tests have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition, which manifests later in life and was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening. Sadly this can be exacerbated by playing sport so Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.
Adam continued, “Of course, given this is Enock’s career and a decision which can’t be taken lightly we have taken our time to be as thorough as possible, completed advanced cardiac investigations and collaborated with clinical experts to gain the best second opinions for Enock.
“We will be helping him make sure the condition is managed with the appropriate treatment for him to otherwise live a long and healthy life.’”

29/09/2022

FROM LODGE SEIZURE APOLOGY TO HOME INVASION

…the case of President Edgar Lungu fate’s and DEC pursuit

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) team which comprised officers, Surveyors and Evaluators on September 29, 2022 stormed the property of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in State Lodge area in New Kasama.

According to information gathered by our team, DEC officers demanded to see the owner of the property and to their discomfort only to see the former Head of State coming out to greet them.
The property in question is a well-known property of President Lungu which does not need rocket science investigations for the so learned officers who have obviously spent years in school.

On Wednesday 28th September 2022, DEC issued a notice that the Commission had seized a Lodge suspected to belong to President Lungu only to be told later that the property did not actually belong to the former head of state.

Our thinking is that DEC cannot undertake these activities without blessings from the commend center.

We all want and pursue justice. If the former head of state and his regime did any form of illegalities then President Hakainde Hichilema has the constitutional mandate to call for the lifting of ECL’s immunity through parliament so that he can be answerable for whatever misdeeds he committed.

Currently, whatever calls DEC officers are receiving from their command center should be treated as an illegality and should not be supported until right procedures are followed.

As it stands, President Edgar Lungu, having been a President of the Republic of Zambia, enjoys constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution as outlined in Article 98(4) (where he cannot be investigated, arrested or prosecuted. Law Enforcement Agencies, especially the Drug Enforcement Commission, have flagrantly ignored the law which we think should be explained.

We are meant to believe that Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) are eager to suffocate the former head of state emotionally. This action maybe of course comforting for ruling party membership but it paints Zambia black in its human right record internationally.

If President Hakainde Hichilema wishes to investigate, arrest, and prosecute the former president, Article 98 of the Constitution of Zambia has laid the constitutional procedures and processes to follow. It is that simple!

“It cannot be done outside the law,” said Emmanuel Mwamba, former Ambassador to Ethiopia, who is right. Therefore, the conduct of the Law Enforcement Agencies who have shown great disregard and contempt to the law must be called to order.

Let’s do the right thing, guys, and stop this shameful and embarrassing attitude which in the end can only bleed more hate than ever seen before.

Agent 2022

22/09/2022

Just thinking aloud: Is Betting a Sin?

For the last few weeks, I engaged in discussions which suggest that “it is wrong for a Christian to participate in betting activities”. Philosophies have also told us that betting or rather gambling is against the principles of God.
I have always looked at betting as an investment as encouraged according to the book of Matthew 25:14-30.
“…17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master…”
Most of you are familiar with the Parable of the Talents in the scripture mentioned here.

According to other books in the Bible, God only condemns acts of “dishonest” when making money and according to my research on issues to deal with betting I have not seen any loophole for one to conduct him/her in a dishonest manner unless proven otherwise by the scripture.
Let us examine this argument by Ronald A. Reno, whose writing for “Focus on the Family”, considers betting or gambling to be an abdication of Biblical instructions to Love your neighbor and take care of the poor. He says Gambling cannot exist without winners and losers and cultivates a desire to place yourself first at the expense of your neighbors.
He further adds “Scriptures teach us to take care of the poor rather than to support activities such as gambling which in order to succeed must, on average, make all participants poorer in the long run. Reno goes on to say that gambling creates and encourages vices such as greed and covetousness.
My argument however, has been that anything which is not supported by scripture remains an opinion rather than a principle.
As we look for a healthy discussion, please take note that this write-up is meant to educate on the discussed subject and not to attract insults.
If you have any scripture that discusses betting as a sin feel free to drop your points.

Remember I’m just thinking aloud.

The Agent @ 2022